Convertible cattle chute and dehorning apparatus.



S. B. PIERCE.

CONVERTIBLE CATTLE CHUTE AND DEHORNING APPARATUS.

APPLICATION FILED APR. 8, 1915.

1,171,878. Patented Feb. 15,1916.

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/ l I m lyw a ha WITNESSES: l/Vl/ENTUR ATTORNEY,

THE COLUMBIA PLANUGRAPH co., WASHINGTON, D. c

S. B. PIERCE.

. CONVERTIBLE CATTLE CHUTE AND DEHORNING APPARATUS.

APPLICATION FILED APR. 8,1915. 1 Patented Feb. 15,1916.

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THE COLUMBIA PLANDGRAPII 60-. WASHINGTON. D. c.

, SOLOMON B. PIERCE,

,UNITED STATES" PATENT OFFICE.

OF GASI-ILAND, MISSOURI, ASSIGNOR or ONE-FOURTH TO HUGH f H. PRESTON, or GASHLAND, MISSOURI.

CONVERTIBLE CATTLE CHUTE AND DEHORNING' APPARATUS.

Application filed April 8, 1915. Serial No. 19,916.

To all whom it may concern Be it known that I, SOLOMON B. PIERCE, a citizen of the United'States, residing at Gashland, in the county of Clay and State of Missouri, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Convertible Cattle Chutes and Dehorning Apparatus, of which converted into a dehorning apparatus which may also be used to rlng hogs.

The apparatus can be quickly set up for use on any comparatively level surface,or placed in knockdown form for shipment or storage.

In order that the invention may befully understood, reference will now be made to the accompanying drawing, in which:

Figure 1 is a front elevation of the apparatus arranged for dehorning cattle and ringing the snouts of hogs. Fig. 2 is a plan view of the same. Fig. 3 isavertical longitudinal sectional view of the apparatus arranged for loading hogs and cattle into wagons, cars, etc. Fig. L is arear elevation of the same. Fig. 5' is a broken plan view of a floor employed in carrying outthe invention.

In carrying out the invention, I employ a collapsible chute 1, embodying a floor 2 and two adjustable sides 3. The floor 1 is provided with transverse cleats 4, which prevent cattle from slipping down upon said floor when it is arranged in the inclined position disclosed by Fig. 3. Each of the adjustable sides 3 embodies front and rear posts 5 and 6, connected by horizontal slats 7 reinforced intermediate their ends by a vertical slat 8. Each side 3 is held in an upright position by braces 9 and 10 connected by pivots 11 and 12 to the posts 5 and 6, respectively, so that they may fold against said posts when the chute is in knockdown form for shipment or storage. WVhen the chute is set up for use the braces 9 and 10 are prevented from accidentally folding against their respective posts 5 and 6 by hooks 13 and 14 secured by pivots l5 and 16 to said posts 5 and 6 and adapted to engage bolts 17 and 18 on the braces 9 and 10, respectively. The rear ends of the sides 3- are Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Feb. 15, 1916.

braced apart by a transverse bar 19 removably secured to the upper ends of the posts 6 by bolts and nuts 20 and 21, respectively, and when the apparatus is arranged for dehorning cattle, as disclosed by Figs. 1 and 2, the front ends of the sides 3 are spaced apart by metallic straps 22, 23, securedto the front posts 5 by bolts 24, and arranged to support a stanchion 26 consisting of an upright member 27 and a lever 28, which latter is pivOtally-mounted at its lower end upon a pin 29 extending through the straps 23. v I

As some cattle, especially Texas steers, have horns which extend laterally more than others, it is desirable to be able to vary the distance between the members 27 and 28 of the stanchion 26, sol provide for this by" forming a series of holes 30 in the straps 23 to receive the pivot 29, and providing the.

their lower portions to receive the necks of I hogs when the snouts of the latter are to be.

provided with rings.

stanchion, said lever is reliably held in any of its adjusted positions by a pawl 37, piv- Oted thereon and adapted to engage any of the ratchet-teeth 38 on the upper edges of the straps 22. When it is desired to move the lever 28 away from the member 27 to release the animal, the pawl 37 is raised above the teeth 38 by a handle 39, connected to the pawl 37 by a link &0.

When the chute is arranged for dehorning purposes (Figs. 1 and 2),'the forward ends of its adjustable sides 3 are adjusted toward each other and the front'posts 5 are placed through openings 41 in the floor 2, while the rear end of said fioor is suspended by chains 42 from hooks 43 projecting from the rear posts 6.

To arrange the chute for loading cattle into a wagon or car, the stanchion 26, with its straps 22 and 23, is removed from the posts 5, and the latter are removed from the holes 41 and placed upon the ground adjacent the sides of the floor 2, (Figs. 3 and 4). 1

When the lever 28 is adjusted toward the a member 27 to secure an animals neck in the The rear end of the floor 2 is then suspended by the chains 42 and the hooks 43, after which the front end of said. floor is, raised until it assumes the desired inclination,

when it is secured at such inclination by chains 44 engaging hooks i5, on the adjacent sides of the front posts 5. The holes 41 are then closed, so that the animal can not step therein, by a lid 46 secured to the floor 2 by hinges 47. If desired the lid 46 may be held in closed position by a suitable latch (not shown).

IVhen the apparatus is to be shipped or stored it can be readily placed in knockdown position after releasing the chains 42 and 44: from the hooks t3 and 45, respec tlvely, removing the transverse bar 19, and

folding the braces-9 and 10 against'the posts 5 and 6, respectively.

From the foregoing description, it is apparent that I have produced an apparatus tal and inclined positions and having two holes in its forward portion, two sides hav-' ing posts at their forward'ends' to remo'v;

ablyenter'th'e holes i'n'the-floor 'whenthe same isadjusted to horizontal ,pOSitionQand" a lid mounted on the floor and adapted to cover the holes therein when the posts are removed from said holes and the floor is adjusted to an inclined position.

:2. In an apparatus of thecharacter described, a chute consisting of a floor having two holes in its forward portion, two ad-. justable sides having posts at their forward ends adapted to be set in the floor holes to adjust the forward ends of the sides toward each other or set outslde the adjacent margins of the floor to spread the forward ends of said sides away from .each other, means to support said sides when adjusted to either position, and means for suspending the floor from the sides at different inclinations when their forward ends are set outside the m.ar gins of said floor.

3. In an apparatusof the character described, a chute. consisting; of a floor having two holes in its forward portion, two adj ust? able sides having posts attheir forward ends adapted to be fitted in the fioorholes to ad-v just the forwardends of the sidestoward each other, or set outsidethe adjacentmargins of the floor to spread the forward ends of said'sides away from each other, an ad-v justable stanchion removably secured to said posts, braces to support said sides when ad'- justed toeither position, and means for sup? porting the floor from the sides at different inclinationswhen theirforward ends are" set outside the margins'of said floor,

In testimony whei eofl affix my signature,

in the presence of two witnesses.

SOLOMON B. PIERCE.

itnesses: t 7

Roy. I/V. QAsHB RY, CLAUDE F. KNIGHT'EN.

Copies of this patent may be obtained for 'five cents each. byaddressing the Commissioner of Patents, Washington, D. C. 

